Ignition Switch

I just bought a 74 maverick 4 door and it needs a new ignition switch which i heard was going to be a pain to replace... If anyone has any insider tips or if someone has done this before and can explain how to do it i will take all the help i can get

 

that's the thing in the column that the key goes into? wasn't a pain when I did mine. Mine was a 71 maverick. u need a puller for the steering wheel, some people can yank theirs off with force but I couldn't, so bought a puller for $15.
then there is a little tab you depress and the whole thing comes out in one piece. let me see if I find a picture.

 

here is the puller



here is the plate you'll see after the steering wheel



then this . . .


if you look up into the whole where I'm pointing that metal rod you'll see something you can depress, then the key thing just pops out.



here is a better pic of it . . .

 

its not that hard if you have the key. you take off the wheel, turn the key to the run postion. there is a hole that you push a object into like a screwdriver or allen wrench and it will release the key cylinder. you can just pull it out then. the new key cylinder should have detailed instructions and pictures that will show you where that hole is.
or are you talking about the eletrical portion of the switch. thats easy to change also. it just requires you to drop the stearing colum down from the dash, unbolting and unpluging the switch, bolt on the new one and plug it in. adjust it so all the postions work correctly. bolt back up the steering colum and your done.
so that brings up the question as to why do you think you need a new switch

 

dam, mo beat me to it. good job mo.

 

Good description on removing the cylinder lock but the switch can be replaced without removing the steering wheel.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the shrouding from the steering column, and detach and lower the steering column from the brake support bracket.
3. Disconnect the switch wiring at the multiple plug.
4. Remove the two nuts that retain the switch to steering column.
5. On models with a steering column mounted gearshift lever, disconnect the ignition switch plunger from the ignition switch actuator rod and remove the ignition switch. On models with a floor mounted gearshift lever, remove the pin that connects the switch plunger to the switch actuator and remove the switch.
6. To re-install the switch, place both locking mechanism at the top of the column and the switch itself in the lock position for correct adjustment. To hold the column in the lock position, place the automatic shift lever in PARK or the manual shift lever in Reverse, and turn to LOCK and remove the key. New switches are held in lock by plastic shipping pins. To pin existing switches, pull the switch plunger out as far as it will go and push it back in to the first detent. Insert a 3/32 in. diameter wire into the locking hole in the top of the switch.
7. Connect the switch plunger to the switch actuator rod.
8. Position the switch on the column and install the attaching nuts

 

I need the electrical portion not where the key goes in. I just bought it so im not sure why it needs to be replace considering it only has 43,000 miles it had been sitting around a good bit of its life and i guess it just went out. I bought it from a friends dad who talked to a mechanic and the mechanic was pretty sure that it just needed the switch (engine runs better when the choke is off. not quite sure what he meant by that but it run fine to get home). I am going to try and get a new one tomorrow car had to be hot wired to run. Thanks for the help i will probably be posting more tomorrow when i start working on it.

 

Learned from the best!

 

did he/you try adjusting the switch to see if that's what was wrong.
could be the...N/S switch...

 

No we have not tried to adjust the switch. How would i go about doing that?

 

If you are referring to the switch i think you are it is down on the back side of the column up under dash a bit. you have to pull a few nuts off a bracket on column and let the column down enough so you can get to it. If I'm thinking correctly this is the switch that the rod goes into coming form your ignition(key tumbler). mine did the same thing on my 71 mav right after i got it. i replaced the key tumbler first only to find out it was the actual switch that had gone bad. It's true it could just be out of adjustment but they are pretty cheap so i would go ahead and just replace the switch and probably never have to touch it again. If you do want to adjust it it should be slotted where it attaches to column. but it may take a little trial and error.all an all not to bad of a job to do unless you have huge arms. might want to find a guy with small arms to help you out.electrical stuff tends to corrode if it sits for awhile as did mine.

 

huh.... im missing that plate

 

im am trying to to get under it and pull of the column now but getting under there is a bit of a pain. Having problem with getting a screw out that holds the bottom panel on, but after that should get the column unbolted and hopefully can find the switch then

 

yup once you get the column unhooked from underside of dash you can't miss the switch. rod coming from key tumbler goes into it.as i said b 4 smaller arms makes it easier, but you'll get it

 

Im having problems finding all the bolts holding the steering column on...found three right next to the column and took those off...